Project description:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a globally prevalent and fatal malignancy worldwide, and identifying therapeutic strategies is time-consuming. Numerous reports have suggested the involvement of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the progression of various cancers. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in HCC progression remain unclear. In this study, we observed low expression levels of the NLRP3 inflammasome in a subset of HCC cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the NLRP3 inflammasome can be activated by LPS + ATP through the nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway, as confirmed by western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. To assess the impact of NLRP3 inflammasome activation on HCC cell behavior, we employed Edu staining, cell cycle assay, Annexin V/PI staining, and wound healing assay. Our results revealed that NLRP3 inflammasome activation inhibited the proliferation of Bel-7402 and SMMC-7721 cells, arrested the cell cycle at the G1 phase, and suppressed cell migration, while apoptosis remained unaffected. In summary, our findings suggest that targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome could have therapeutic potential for HCC.
Project description:The NLRP3 inflammasome, a critical component of the innate immune system, induces caspase-1 activation and interleukin (IL)-1β maturation in response to microbial infection and cellular damage. However, aberrant activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to the pathogenesis of several inflammatory disorders, including cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes, Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Here, we identify the receptor for activated protein C kinase 1 (RACK1) as a component of the NLRP3 complexes in macrophages. RACK1 interacts with NLRP3 and NEK7 but not ASC. Suppression of RACK1 expression abrogates caspase-1 activation and IL-1β release in response to NLRP3- but not NLRC4- or AIM2-activating stimuli. This RACK1 function is independent of its ribosomal binding activity. Mechanistically, RACK1 promotes the active conformation of NLRP3 induced by activating stimuli and subsequent inflammasome assembly. These results demonstrate that RACK1 is a critical mediator for NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
Project description:Inflammasomes are protein complexes which are important in several inflammatory diseases. Inflammasomes form part of the innate immune system that triggers the activation of inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. The inflammasome most studied in sterile inflammation and non-communicable disease is the NLRP3 inflammasome. Upon activation by diverse pathogen or disease associated signals, NLRP3 nucleates the oligomerization of an adaptor protein ASC forming a platform (the inflammasome) for the recruitment and activation of the protease caspase-1. Active caspase-1 catalyzes the processing and release of IL-1β and IL-18, and via cleavage of the pore forming protein gasdermin D can drive pyroptotic cell death. This review focuses on the structural basis and mechanism for NLRP3 inflammasome signaling in the context of drug design, providing chemical structures, activities, and clinical potential of direct inflammasome inhibitors. A cryo-EM structure of NLRP3 bound to NEK7 protein provides structural insight and aids in the discovery of novel NLRP3 inhibitors utilizing ligand-based or structure-based approaches.
Project description:Deubiquitination of NLRP3 has been suggested to contribute to inflammasome activation, but the roles and molecular mechanisms are still unclear. We here demonstrate that ABRO1, a subunit of the BRISC deubiquitinase complex, is necessary for optimal NLRP3-ASC complex formation, ASC oligomerization, caspase-1 activation, and IL-1? and IL-18 production upon treatment with NLRP3 ligands after the priming step, indicating that efficient NLRP3 activation requires ABRO1. Moreover, we report that ABRO1 deficiency results in a remarkable attenuation in the syndrome severity of NLRP3-associated inflammatory diseases, including MSU- and Alum-induced peritonitis and LPS-induced sepsis in mice. Mechanistic studies reveal that LPS priming induces ABRO1 binding to NLRP3 in an S194 phosphorylation-dependent manner, subsequently recruiting the BRISC to remove K63-linked ubiquitin chains of NLRP3 upon stimulation with activators. Furthermore, deficiency of BRCC3, the catalytically active component of BRISC, displays similar phenotypes to ABRO1 knockout mice. Our ?ndings reveal an ABRO1-mediated regulatory signaling system that controls activation of the NLRP3 in?ammasome and provide novel potential targets for treating NLRP3-associated inflammatory diseases.
Project description:Necroptosis is a physiological cell suicide mechanism initiated by receptor-interacting protein kinase-3 (RIPK3) phosphorylation of mixed-lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL), which results in disruption of the plasma membrane. Necroptotic cell lysis, and resultant release of proinflammatory mediators, is thought to cause inflammation in necroptotic disease models. However, we previously showed that MLKL signaling can also promote inflammation by activating the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome to recruit the adaptor protein apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase activation and recruitment domain (ASC) and trigger caspase-1 processing of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Here, we provide evidence that MLKL-induced activation of NLRP3 requires (i) the death effector four-helical bundle of MLKL, (ii) oligomerization and association of MLKL with cellular membranes, and (iii) a reduction in intracellular potassium concentration. Although genetic or pharmacological targeting of NLRP3 or caspase-1 prevented MLKL-induced IL-1β secretion, they did not prevent necroptotic cell death. Gasdermin D (GSDMD), the pore-forming caspase-1 substrate required for efficient NLRP3-triggered pyroptosis and IL-1β release, was not essential for MLKL-dependent death or IL-1β secretion. Imaging of MLKL-dependent ASC speck formation demonstrated that necroptotic stimuli activate NLRP3 cell-intrinsically, indicating that MLKL-induced NLRP3 inflammasome formation and IL-1β cleavage occur before cell lysis. Furthermore, we show that necroptotic activation of NLRP3, but not necroptotic cell death alone, is necessary for the activation of NF-κB in healthy bystander cells. Collectively, these results demonstrate the potential importance of NLRP3 inflammasome activity as a driving force for inflammation in MLKL-dependent diseases.
Project description:The cytosolic pattern recognition receptor (PRR) NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) senses a wide range of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Upon activation, NLRP3 triggers the assembly of inflammasome via the self-oligomerization and the recruitment of apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain (ASC) and pro-caspase-1, facilitating the robust immune responses including the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and pyroptosis. The NLRP3 inflammasome must be well orchestrated to prevent the aberrant activations under physiological and pathological conditions, because uncontrolled activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is one of the major causes of a variety of autoimmune diseases and metabolic disorders. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms for controlling NLRP3 inflammasome activation may provide novel strategies for the treatment of NLRP3-related diseases. Although NLRP3 inflammasome can be regulated at the transcriptional level, the post-translational modification (PTM) of NLRP3 as well as other inflammasome components has also been showed to be critical for the regulation of its activation. Several kinases and phosphatases have been shown to control NLRP3 inflammasome activation in response to either exogenous pathogen infections or endogenous molecules, such as bile acids. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of phosphorylation patterns and their functional role in the regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome, and suggest interesting areas for future research.
Project description:Inflammasomes are multi-protein signaling complexes that trigger the activation of inflammatory caspases and the maturation of interleukin-1β. Among various inflammasome complexes, the NLRP3 inflammasome is best characterized and has been linked with various human autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Thus, the NLRP3 inflammasome may be a promising target for anti-inflammatory therapies. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms by which the NLRP3 inflammasome is activated in the cytosol. We also describe the binding partners of NLRP3 inflammasome complexes activating or inhibiting the inflammasome assembly. Our knowledge of the mechanisms regulating NLRP3 inflammasome signaling and how these influence inflammatory responses offers further insight into potential therapeutic strategies to treat inflammatory diseases associated with dysregulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.
Project description:Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a major cytokine that initiates and enhances inflammatory responses. Excessive IL-1β production is a characteristic of most chronic inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, which affect a large proportion of the global population. The production of bioactive IL-1β is mediated by a caspase-1-activating complex known as an 'inflammasome'. The NLRP3 inflammasome has been associated with several human inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and represents a potential therapeutic target for disrupting IL-1β production. We used molecular modeling guided by molecular dynamics simulations to design α-helical stapled peptides targeting the pyrin domain of the adaptor protein ASC to interrupt the development of its filament, which is crucial for NLRP3 inflammasome formation. The peptides were effectively internalized by human monocytic cells and efficiently suppressed the release of the inflammasome-regulated cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, following exogenous activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. The peptides reduced ASC speck formation and caspase-1 processing thereby suppressing pro-IL-1β processing and release of active IL-1β. This is the first demonstration of the successful use of stapled peptides designed to target the adaptor protein ASC, and can be extended to other inflammatory pathways to disrupt excessive IL-1β production.
Project description:Inflammasome, activated by pathogen-derived and host-derived danger signals, constitutes a multimolecular signaling complex that serves as a platform for caspase-1 (CASP1) activation and interleukin-1beta (IL1B) maturation. The activation of NLRP3 inflammasome requires two-step signals. The first “priming” signal (Signal 1) enhances gene expression of inflammasome components. The second “activation” signal (Signal 2) promotes the assembly of inflammasome components. Deregulated activation of NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to the pathological processes of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS). However, at present, the precise mechanism regulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation and deactivation remains largely unknown. By genome-wide gene expression profiling, we studied the molecular network of NLRP3 inflammasome activation-responsive genes in a human monocyte cell line THP-1 sequentially given two-step signals. We identified the set of 83 NLRP3 inflammasome activation-responsive genes. Among them, we found the NR4A nuclear receptor family NR4A1, NR4A2, and NR4A3, the EGR family EGR1, EGR2, and EGR3, the IkappaB family NFKBIZ, NFKBID, and NFKBIA as a key group of the genes that possibly constitute a negative feedback loop for shutting down inflammation following NLRP3 inflammasome activation. By molecular network analysis, we identified a complex network of NLRP3 inflammasome activation-responsive genes involved in cellular development and death, and immune and inflammatory responses, where transcription factors AP-1, NR4A, and EGR serve as a hub. Thus, NLRP3 inflammasome activation-responsive genes constitute the molecular network composed of a set of negative feedback regulators for prompt resolution of inflammation. To load the Signal 1 (S1), THP-1 cells were incubated for 3 hours in the culture medium with or without inclusion of 0.2 microgram/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To load the Signal 2 (S2), they were incubated further for 2 hours in the culture medium with inclusion of 10 microM nigericin sodium salt dissolved in ethanol or the equal v/v% concentration of ethanol (vehicle), followed by processing for microarray analysis on Human Gene 1.0 ST Array (Affymetrix).
Project description:The objective of this study is to examine IL-11-induced mechanisms of inflammatory cell migration to the CNS. We report that IL-11 is produced at highest frequency by myeloid cells among the PBMC cell subsets. Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) have an increased frequency of IL-11+ monocytes, IL-11+ and IL-11R+ CD4+ lymphocytes and IL-11R+ neutrophils in comparison to matched healthy controls (HCs). IL-11+ and GM-CSF+ monocytes, CD4+ lymphocytes, and neutrophils accumulate in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The effect of IL-11 in-vitro stimulation, examined using single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq), revealed the highest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in classical monocytes, including upregulated NFKB1, NLRP3 and IL1B. All CD4+ cell subsets had increased expression of S100A8/9 alarmin genes involved in NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In IL-11R+-sorted cells from the CSF, classical and intermediate monocytes significantly upregulated the expression of multiple NLRP3 inflammasome-related genes, including complement, IL18, and migratory genes (VEGFA/B) in comparison to blood-derived cells. Therapeutic targeting of this pathway with aIL-11 mAb in mice with RR experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) decreased clinical scores, CNS inflammatory infiltrates and demyelination. aIL-11 mAb treatment decreased the numbers of NFkBp65+, NLRP3+ and IL-1b+ monocytes in the CNS of mice with EAE. The results suggest that IL-11/IL-11R signaling in monocytes represents a therapeutic target in RRMS.